Latest News and Breaking Stories

live Iran: 'No enemy troops should survive if adversaries attempt a ground operation' - Middle East conflict on 2 April

Fears of wider escalation grow despite President Donald Trump saying U.S. strikes on Iran could end within weeks. Meanwhile missile attacks, tanker incidents and rising casualties across Israel, Lebanon and the Gulf heighten risks to regional stability and energy routes.

Trump removes Pam Bondi as U.S. Attorney General amid Epstein case fallout

21:43

U.S. politics

Trump removes Pam Bondi as U.S. Attorney General amid Epstein case fallout

In a dramatic shake-up at the top of the U.S. Justice Department, President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, a White House official confirmed on Thursday.

China’s decade of planning cushions economy as oil prices surge

17:53

View from China

China’s decade of planning cushions economy as oil prices surge

China is emerging as one of the more stable economies amid the latest global oil shock, thanks to years of planning, diversified energy sources and a steady shift towards renewable power.

Afghanistan among worst-hit countries for unexploded ordnance, UN warns

17:08

View from Afghanistan

Afghanistan among worst-hit countries for unexploded ordnance, UN warns

Afghanistan remains the third most affected country globally for unexploded ordnance casualties, with more than 50 people killed or injured each month, a United Nations official has said.

Explained: Who the Houthis are and how they could widen the Iran conflict

15:40

Explainer

Explained: Who the Houthis are and how they could widen the Iran conflict

Fresh Houthi missile and drone strikes on Israel mark a significant widening of the Iran-centred conflict, raising fears the Yemen-based group could open a new front. Their position near the Bab el-Mandeb strait also threatens global shipping and energy flows.

Region

South Caucasus Central Asia Middle East

Pakistan in talks with Afghanistan in China to end conflict

13:20

Diplomacy

Pakistan in talks with Afghanistan in China to end conflict

Pakistan is holding talks with Afghanistan to end the worst conflict between the South Asian neighbours since ‌the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

IOM says 1,492 Afghans died or went missing on migration routes in 2025

17:40

Missing Afghan Migrants

IOM says 1,492 Afghans died or went missing on migration routes in 2025

At least 1,492 Afghans died or went missing during migration journeys worldwide in 2025, most on the Afghanistan–Iran route, according to a new International Organization for Migration (IOM) report.

15:52

Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan

Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan trade rises 16.2% to nearly $5bn

Trade between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan rose by 16.2% in 2025 to nearly $5 billion, underscoring deepening economic ties highlighted during a visit by Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yerlan Kosherbayev.

Georgia limits election observer roles to foreign citizens amid post-election reforms

14:53

Georgia election law

Georgia limits election observer roles to foreign citizens amid post-election reforms

Georgia has introduced changes to its election laws, fuelling renewed debate over transparency and political control in an already tense post-election climate.

1h ago

U.S. politics

Trump removes Pam Bondi as U.S. Attorney General amid Epstein case fallout

In a dramatic shake-up at the top of the U.S. Justice Department, President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, a Wh...

1h ago

Strait of Hormuz

Britain leads 40-nation talks on reopening Strait of Hormuz amid Iran blockade

Britain said on Thursday that around 40 countries are exploring ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route effectively blocked...

3h ago

NATO

Trump threatens to pull U.S. out of NATO over Hormuz dispute

American President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to pull the United States out of NATO after European nations refused to join a U.S.-led nav...

Former Kyrgyz MP detained as oil corruption probe widens to powerful political family

3h ago

View from Kyrgyzstan

Former Kyrgyz MP detained as oil corruption probe widens to powerful political family

Former Kyrgyz MP Shairbek Tashiev has been detained in a corruption investigation linked to state oil firm Kyrgyzneftegaz, as the case expands to i...

4h ago

Renewable energy

France launches major renewable energy drive with ‘Made in Europe’ focus

France has unveiled a delayed wave of renewable energy tenders to boost energy independence and strengthen domestic and European industry....

At least 18 people dead after migrant boat sinks off Türkiye's Aegean coast

11:53

Migrants

At least 18 people dead after migrant boat sinks off Türkiye's Aegean coast

At least 18 people were killed when an inflatable boat carrying migrants sank off Türkiye's western province of Mugla on Wednesday, the coastguard said in a statement, adding that search and rescue efforts continued in the area.

World

World News

07:56

Earthquake

Indonesia earthquake triggers tsunami waves, damages buildings

An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 struck in Indonesia's Northern Molucca Sea on Thursday, killing one person, damaging some buildings and triggering tsunami waves, authorities and witnesses said.

U.S. drops sanctions on Venezuela’s Rodríguez, enabling control of overseas assets

12:48

U.S. lifts sanctions

U.S. drops sanctions on Venezuela’s Rodríguez, enabling control of overseas assets

In a major policy reversal, the U.S. Treasury has removed Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, from its sanctions list, signalling a sharp shift in Washington’s approach to Caracas.

14:14

White House

'I'm such a king I can't get a ballroom approved', jokes Trump after judge orders halt to White House project

“He is not… the owner!” U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon wrote, temporarily halting construction of President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom, underscoring a cascade of legal, regulatory and public opposition that has engulfed the controversial expansion.

FBI arrives in Cuba to investigate deadly speedboat shootout

11:34

Diplomacy

FBI arrives in Cuba to investigate deadly speedboat shootout

A technical team from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has touched down in Cuba this week to launch an "independent investigation" into a deadly maritime shootout that happened on 25 February.

Business

Business Economy Markets

U.S. petrol prices top $4 a gallon amid Iran conflict and energy market turmoil

14:48

Energy supply

U.S. petrol prices top $4 a gallon amid Iran conflict and energy market turmoil

The U.S. national average retail price of petrol rose above $4 a gallon for the first time in over three years on Monday (30 March), according to GasBuddy data, as the U.S.–Israeli war with Iran continued to roil global energy markets.

Japan, Indonesia step up energy ties as U.S.-Israeli Iran war strains supplies

14:16

Energy crisis

Japan, Indonesia step up energy ties as U.S.-Israeli Iran war strains supplies

Japan and Indonesia will deepen coordination on energy security, Tokyo said, as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupts vital oil and gas flows to Asia.

China's top airlines cautious on financial outlook as impact of Iran war raises fuel costs

11:28

Aviation

China's top airlines cautious on financial outlook as impact of Iran war raises fuel costs

China's three largest state-owned airlines have issued warnings regarding their financial outlook for the current year, acknowledging that the eruption of war involving Iran has driven jet fuel prices to unsustainable highs.

Global markets slide as Iran conflict drives oil surge and recession fears

13:31

Prices Surge

Global markets slide as Iran conflict drives oil surge and recession fears

Stock markets across Asia fell on Monday as escalating conflict involving Iran drove oil prices sharply higher, fuelling fears of inflation and a potential global recession, with investors reacting to disruption risks in the Strait of Hormuz and prolonged hostilities.

WTO suffers fresh blow as reform push hits a wall at Cameroon meeting

12:53

World Trade

WTO suffers fresh blow as reform push hits a wall at Cameroon meeting

World Trade Organization (WTO) talks broke up with no agreement on Monday on a plan for reform or even on extending a moratorium on e-commerce, piling more pressure on the trade body that finds itself increasingly sidelined by economic nationalism.

Culture

Culture News Lifestyle Art

Rapper Megan Thee Stallion hospitalised after falling ill on Broadway during Moulin Rouge performance

08:18

Entertainment

Rapper Megan Thee Stallion hospitalised after falling ill on Broadway during Moulin Rouge performance

Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion was hospitalised in New York City after she fell ill mid-performance during a Broadway production of 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical'.

Eurovision expands to Asia with first contest set for 2026

14:07

Culture

Eurovision expands to Asia with first contest set for 2026

The European Broadcasting Union and global entertainment company Voxovation have announced that the first-ever Eurovision Song Contest Asia will take place in 2026, with Bangkok selected to host the inaugural edition.

Taylor Swift and 'Showgirl' dominate iHeartRadio Music Awards

07:56

Entertainment

Taylor Swift and 'Showgirl' dominate iHeartRadio Music Awards

Music superstar Taylor Swift scored a leading seven trophies at the iHeartRadio Music Awards on Thursday including artist of the year and best pop album for the upbeat record "The Life of a Showgirl."

AI to recreate Val Kilmer's performance in film after actor’s death

15:40

Film Innovation

AI to recreate Val Kilmer's performance in film after actor’s death

Late Hollywood actor Val Kilmer will appear posthumously in the upcoming film "As Deep as the Grave" through the use of generative artificial intelligence, in what producers describe as a first-of-its-kind performance.

Most viewed

20:14

Middle East Conflict

Russia pulls staff, attacks stopped, Trump says Iran wants ceasefire - Middle East conflict on 1 April

There are fears of an oil spill after a drone strike hit a Kuwaiti oil tanker near Dubai on Tuesday, while U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran reportedly killed at least two people. A loud explosion was heard in Beirut in southern Lebanon early Wednesday, as oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel.

07:06

Middle East Conflict

live Iran: 'No enemy troops should survive if adversaries attempt a ground operation' - Middle East conflict on 2 April

12:07

Russian oil

Russian oil tanker begins discharging cargo in Cuba's Matanzas terminal

Russian-flagged tanker carrying approximately 700,000 barrels of crude oil docked at Cuba's Matanzas oil terminal on Tuesday, shipping data confirmed, marking a vital and controversial delivery to an island paralysed by severe energy shortages and a suffocating U.S. blockade.

07:40

Plane Crash

Russian military plane crash in Crimea kills 30 people

A Russian military An-26 aircraft has crashed in Crimea, killing all 30 people on board, Russia’s Defence Ministry has confirmed.

Explosions heard in Damascus as Syria's president says it will stay out of Iran conflict unless it faces aggression

08:57

Middle East conflict

Explosions heard in Damascus as Syria's president says it will stay out of Iran conflict unless it faces aggression

Explosions were heard in the Syrian capital Damascus as Israeli air defences intercepted Iranian missiles, Syrian state television reported on Tuesday.

Health

Health news Healthcare

Six new meningitis cases reported in UK bringing total to 27

18:14

Mingitis Outbreak UK

Six new meningitis cases reported in UK bringing total to 27

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that as of Wednesday evening, it has identified six new cases of meningococcal disease in Kent, bringing the total of confirmed or suspected cases to at least 27.

WHO maps out $2m for Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, warns of health crisis as conflict escalates

10:40

Middle East Conflict

WHO maps out $2m for Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, warns of health crisis as conflict escalates

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released $2m in emergency funding to support health responses in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria as escalating regional conflict strains hospitals, raises displacement and increases pressure on already fragile health systems.

Austria moves to ban social media for children under 14

11:54

Europe tech rules

Austria moves to ban social media for children under 14

Austria’s government on Friday approved plans to introduce a nationwide ban on social media use for children under the age of 14, alongside reforms to upper secondary school curricula aimed at boosting media literacy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) education from the 2027/28 academic year.

Scottish lawmakers vote against bill legalising assisted dying

12:17

Health news

Scottish lawmakers vote against bill legalising assisted dying

The Scottish Parliament has voted against legalising assisted dying, ending a years-long campaign to make Scotland the first part of the UK to allow the practice.

War in Middle East disrupts medicine shipments to Gulf, raising concerns over cancer drug supply

15:37

Middle East conflict

War in Middle East disrupts medicine shipments to Gulf, raising concerns over cancer drug supply

The war in the Middle East is beginning to disrupt the flow of critical medicines to Gulf countries, raising concerns about the supply of cancer treatments and other temperature-sensitive drugs, according to pharmaceutical industry executives.

Measles cases in Europe and Central Asia fall by 75% but UN agencies warn of the risk of outbreaks

13:20

WHO Report

Measles cases in Europe and Central Asia fall by 75% but UN agencies warn of the risk of outbreaks

Measles cases across Europe and Central Asia fell sharply in 2025 compared to the previous year but health officials have warned that the risk of fresh outbreaks remains unless vaccination gaps are urgently addressed.

Travel

Travel News Destinations

20:52

Tourism Impact

Middle East crisis disrupts travel flows, $56B loss and millions of trips at risk

The ongoing conflict involving Iran is set to disrupt global travel on a massive scale, with nearly 28 million outbound trips from the Middle East at risk this year, according to Oxford Economics.

Rome opens Colosseum’s southern walkways as public square for tourists

15:45

Historic Reopening

Rome opens Colosseum’s southern walkways as public square for tourists

The Colosseum in Rome has reopened its southern corridors as a public square following a four-year restoration, giving visitors free access to a long-lost part of the ancient monument. The newly restored area was unveiled on Tuesday (17 March).

Iran conflict slashes Middle East tourism, costing $600M daily

16:20

Middle East Conflict

Iran conflict slashes Middle East tourism, costing $600M daily

The escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran is already hitting the Middle East travel and tourism sector hard, with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimating losses of at least $600 million per day in international visitor spending.

Vietnam Airlines to cut domestic routes due to jet fuel shortage

07:42

Middle East conflict

Vietnam Airlines to cut domestic routes due to jet fuel shortage

Flag carrier Vietnam Airlines plans to cancel 23 flights per week across several domestic routes from April because of looming jet fuel shortages, Vietnam's aviation authority said.

Green

Green News Climate Nature

16:15

Climate risks

Central Asia steps up action on rapid glacier melt and climate risks

Central Asia is stepping up efforts to address rapid glacier melt, following United Nations warnings of unprecedented climate pressure on mountain ecosystems.

European airlines likely beat 2% green jet fuel target last year

09:13

European Aviation

European airlines likely beat 2% green jet fuel target last year

Europe's aviation sector hit - and may well have surpassed - a 2% mandate for green jet fuel use in 2025, a regulatory official and a source told Reuters, bolstering airlines' green credentials as the region seeks to cut reliance on hydrocarbons.

WMO warns Earth’s climate imbalance accelerating as key indicators hit record extremes

22:16

Climate Change

WMO warns Earth’s climate imbalance accelerating as key indicators hit record extremes

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that the Earth’s climate system is becoming increasingly unstable, with new evidence showing a growing imbalance in how the planet absorbs and releases energy.

China braces for severe floods and drought in 2026

18:51

China Floods and Drought

China braces for severe floods and drought in 2026

China is preparing for a year of extreme weather in 2026, with authorities warning the country could face both severe flooding and widespread drought, underscoring mounting climate pressures.

15:04

Afghanistan

Floods and storms kill 28 and destroy homes across Afghanistan

Heavy rain, flash floods and lightning strikes across Afghanistan have killed 28 people and destroyed hundreds of homes in Kabul, Herat and other provinces.

Program more

13:28

Board of Peace

Can the Board of Peace deliver on promises to rebuild Gaza - and reshape diplomacy?

In a special edition of Context, Orkhan Amashov reports from Washington on the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, examining plans for Gaza’s reconstruction, a proposed stabilisation force, and the wider diplomatic impact of the U.S.-led initiative.

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